High-quality diet tied to lower migraine frequency, severity

(HealthDay)—A high-quality diet is associated with lower migraine severity and frequency, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in Nutritional Neuroscience.

Hande Bakirhan, from Istanbul Medipol University in Turkey, and colleagues examined the correlation between diet quality and dietary patterns (Mediterranean or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH]) and migraine attributes. The analysis included adults diagnosed with episodic migraine at an outpatient headache clinic.

The researchers found that a low Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener score was associated with more severe disability and more severe and frequent attacks. There was a significant negative correlation observed between Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener score and attack severity. Similarly, participants with a low DASH compliance scale score had more severe and frequent attacks, and there was a significant negative correlation between attack severity and DASH compliance scale scores. Lastly, individuals with poor diet quality had more severe migraine attacks and there was a significant negative correlation observed between diet quality total score and attack severity.

"The association between having a good diet quality and milder clinical signs of migraine emphasizes the significance of diet quality in the medical nutritional treatment of migraine," the authors write.

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